The following guitar lesson worksheet is from a series of studies I
use to teach my students called Chords in Context. Visit www.guitarlessonsbybrian.com for more information.

Intermediate Guitar Lesson 20

Major 7 Triads

By Brian Turner

Occasionally a chord such as the Dominant 7 and especially the Major 7 will have a 5 fret span. These chords present a challenge to finger. I recommend that beginners skip them for now and go to the next chord.

The Major 7 chord (C Maj7) omitting the 5 and adding the 7.
The Major 7 actually has four notes: the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7. However, the 5th can be omitted leaving the 1st, 3rd, and 7th. The 7 interval is 1/2 tone (1 fret) higher in pitch than the b7 interval. In the exercise below the major is shown first to illustrate how the 5th of each major triad is raised 2 tones (4 frets) to the 7 creating the Major 7. It is impotant to remember that the Major 7 (CMaj7) has a natural 7 and the Dominant 7 (C7) has a b7. This is a big source of confusion for many guitar students. Remember, the Major 7 (CMaj7) has the intervals 1, 3, 5, and 7 while the Dominant 7 (C7) has the intervals 1, 3, 5 and b7.

Remember beginners, do not get bogged down on chords with a 5 fret span. Go to the next chord.